It was plainly evident during the Hornets' first-round playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets that the winning team had the stronger, deeper bench.

And it was equally obvious that New Orleans couldn't rely on youngsters Hilton Armstrong and Julian Wright to provide consistency in reserve, not only in the playoffs but during the regular season.

Armstrong, who just finished his third NBA season, made 29 starts last season in place of injured center Tyson Chandler. However, for every game in which Armstrong appeared to be making a breakthrough, there were a handful of others in which he seemed to play passively and erratically.

It was, Armstrong admits, a frustrating season.

"It was real up and down for me," Armstrong said. "Sometimes, it doesn't make sense to me. But (Coach Byron Scott) knows what he's doing, because he's one of the best coaches in the league. My play has been inconsistent. It has been real difficult.

"I just need to rebound and play defense, because that's my job. It'll be the same thing every year, just trying to play consistent. This year, I think, was my best year. Then things just changed, and I wasn't in the rotation."

There was a five-game stretch in late February, when the Hornets were experiencing a season-long seven-game winning streak, that Armstrong didn't get off the bench as he nursed a sore knee, and Chandler made a resurgence after returning from an aborted trade to Oklahoma City.

In the last four games of the regular season, as the Hornets stumbled down the stretch, Armstrong played just twice -- once for nine minutes, the other for seven. The appearances were wrapped around a Did Not Play-coach's decision and an inactive for the season finale at San Antonio.

In the playoffs, Armstrong averaged 3.8 points and two rebounds in four appearances. He started the last game against the Nuggets when the Hornets shut down Chandler, who was ailing.

How does Armstrong plan to become more consistent next season?

"I can't worry about anything, just keep playing and do what I do," Armstrong said. "Sometimes the ball falls your way, sometimes it doesn't. I know my effort; that's been consistent throughout the year. I guess that's all I can control. I definitely feel good with my effort.

"I need to get a little stronger and in better shape, just try to work on a couple of post moves and my offensive game a little more, just anything I can add to my game. I don't want to try to do stuff I know I'm not supposed to be doing."

Wright, who just finished his second season, was perhaps the most enigmatic player on the Hornets' roster. He started training camp exhibiting signs he was ready for a breakout season but badly sprained his left ankle during the first of the Hornets' two European exhibition games. That erased the progress he had made.

The first half of Wright's season was punctuated by DNPs and inactive statuses -- 20 in all -- and once he began to get a few minutes on the court, he, like Armstrong, was inconsistent.

Wright averaged 4.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game during the regular season and 2.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in the playoffs.

"Every season is going to have its ups and downs," said Wright, "but I always stay positive and try to learn from every situation. You can't get too high, and you can't get too low.

"You've got to give yourself a chance to always be crisp whenever your number is called. That's kind of what I took from this year and last year. Just stay ready, regardless of the situation. That's kind of been my take on the whole year."

Last offseason, Wright spent time in Chicago working with noted trainer Tim Grover and said he plans to do the same this summer.

Despite his uncertain playing status, Wright never failed to arrive early and stay late for practices and shoot-arounds, trying to enhance his game. But he scored in double figures just six times despite 19 starts, continually frustrating Scott with his spotty play.

"I need to improve in the offseason," said Wright, who said he needs to be more aggressive offensively. "Defensively, I don't have any complaints. I know I'm giving 100 percent effort. I worked hard to help this team in any way possible."

Jimmy Smith can be reached at jsmith@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3814.